Arts & Culture Grants
ABOUT THIS GRANT PROGRAM — Pasadena Community Foundation’s Arts & Culture Grant Program aims to support nonprofit needs for transitional support in the areas of audience diversification, programmatic shifts and/or organizational restructuring due to current unprecedented convergence of post-pandemic challenges.
This program is open to Arts & Culture organizations providing the greater Pasadena area with one or more of the following: Visual Art, Performing Arts, Literary Arts, Historic Preservation, Arts/Cultural History and/or Events, Arts/Cultural Education, and Arts/Cultural Education in one or more of the above areas.
TARGET NEEDS & PRIORITY AREAS — The purpose of the 2024 Arts & Culture Grant Program is to provide support for tangible and enduring rebuilding and reimagining of the arts in this post-pandemic period. Areas such as those listed below will be considered:
- Transitional support for innovation and change-management
- Investment in new technologies
- New programming in line with DEI objectives
- Marketing and communication outreach to diversify audience and/or donor base
TYPE OF SUPPORT AVAILABLE — Program and operating grants are available for organizations that demonstrate a clear vision of how this funding will result in impactful, lasting change for the future of the organization and Arts & Culture in the Pasadena community.
GRANT AMOUNT —Typical grant awards will range between $5,000 – $25,000. Grant decisions will be made in June 2024. Status reports will be requested in early May of the following year.
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS — The 2024 application period is now closed.
APPLICATION SYSTEM — Visit PCF’s online application system
STRONG APPLICATIONS — PCF will prioritize programs that incorporate these strategies:
- Promote diversity, equity and inclusion as a driver of organizational and programming change.
- Proactively engage new audiences.
- Focus on partnerships with other local organizations.
- Develop creative solutions to current challenges.
- Provide arts access to underserved populations.
GEOGRAPHIC RESTRICTION — The applicant organization must be located or provide significant service to the greater Pasadena area (Pasadena, Altadena & Sierra Madre).
NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY — The Foundation does not make grants from its discretionary funds to organizations that discriminate on the basis of age, disability, ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, race or religion.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
- Grants may be made only to tax-exempt organizations under Section 501(c) (3) or 170(c) (1) or (2) (b) of the Internal Revenue Code. None shall be made to Private Foundations under Section 509(1) of the Code.
- An organization must have been in existence for at least two years (based on the date of IRS determination letter) and have achieved a record of effective service and sustainability. Organizations that operate under a Fiscal Sponsor may apply, but they must provide evidence of at least four years of operating history.
- All previous grants must be completed or an interim status report must be provided for an application to be considered. A grantee with an “open grant” will be ineligible for new funding. Grantees who have not complied with previous grant deadlines and reports or receipts may not be eligible for new grant consideration.
- Organizations seeking funding from the Pasadena Community Foundation may only receive ONE grant per calendar year from the following grant programs: Arts & Culture, Animal Welfare, Capital, Education, Senior, or Vista Nova.
PCF will not make Arts & Culture Grants for or to:
- Direct aid to individuals
- Sectarian religious organizations or churches
- Individual public schools. PCF only supports PUSD schools through the Pasadena Educational Foundation (PEF)
- Private schools
- Influencing legislation or elections
- Agencies not engaged in the actual performance of direct services to individuals (no re-granting)
Grant Report Deadlines and Compliance — Reporting requirements must be followed in order to qualify for future grants. Agencies are also requested to comply with PCF’s Grant Recognition Guidelines.